Where and when
How did the wilderness help Jesus? A Biblica study note on Matthew 4:1-11 says that going to the desert helped Jesus prepare to start doing his work among people.
Source: Biblica Study Notes · CC BY-SA 4.0
New TestamentBeginner II · Story 1Matthew 4:1-11
Forty Days in the Wilderness
After forty days in the wilderness, Jesus is hungry. The devil speaks to Jesus three times: about stones and bread, on the top of the temple, and on a high mountain with all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus answers him each time, and in the end angels serve him. Read it in simple English, with the real verse last.
Start this storyStory + 4 lessons · ~40 min · free
The words in this story
10 words you will really use: they appear in the story and in the exercises, and come back for review in the next stories.
wilderness
a dry, empty place far from towns
noun
stone
a hard piece of rock
noun
bread
food made from flour and baked
noun
mouth
the part of the face you eat and speak with
noun
foot
the part at the end of your leg
noun
kingdom
the land and the people ruled by a king
noun
world
the whole earth and all the people on it
noun
command
to tell someone what he must do
verb
alone
that thing and nothing else (‘bread alone’)
adverb
serve
to work for someone and do what he asks
verb
What you'll discover
The moments of the story, in the order they happen.
The Spirit takes Jesus to the wilderness. For forty days and forty nights he does not eat.
The devil says to command stones to become bread. Jesus answers that man shall not live by bread alone.
The devil sets Jesus on the top of the temple and quotes Scripture. Jesus answers with Scripture too.
From a high mountain, the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offers them to him.
The devil leaves, and angels come and serve Jesus.
Original verse
The verse that closes the story, in the World English Bible. After 4 lessons, this is how you read it: the real text, with nothing simplified.
Matthew 4:4 · WEB
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.’”
Context
One detail about the scene, with the work it comes from.
What a story looks like
First the whole story, in simple English with audio for every sentence. Then 4 short lessons, each with a piece of the story, a tip and exercises. At the end, the Bible verse and a little celebration.
- The story · 17 sentences, with the meaning of each word on tap, 3 quick questions about the story
- 4 lessons · a piece of the story, a tip and exercises in each one
- The original verse · the Bible text, unadapted, then the next story
Questions about this story
Which Bible passage is this story from?
Matthew 4:1 to 11, in the World English Bible: Jesus in the wilderness and the devil.
Where does the Spirit take Jesus?
Into the wilderness, where Jesus does not eat for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-2).
What does the devil say about the stones?
He says, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3).
What does Jesus answer about bread?
He answers, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth” (Matthew 4:4).
What does the devil show Jesus from the mountain?
All the kingdoms of the world and their glory (Matthew 4:8).
What happens when the devil leaves?
Angels come and serve Jesus (Matthew 4:11).
Other questions:Do I need to know English?Does Biblup teach doctrine?
More stories in this course
More stories from the New Testament course, in order.
Psalm readingPsalms 91
Angels to Guard You
Angels who guard you, in a few lines of English.
Story 2Mark 5
The Man Among the Tombs
A man in the tombs, a name, and a man in his right mind: Jesus and Legion, in English.
Story 3Mark 10
A Question on the Road
A man on the road, a question about eternal life, a camel and a needle: Jesus and the rich man, in English.
Start this story
17 sentences in simple English, with audio. The first lesson of the course needs no sign-up and no card.
Start this story